The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-12-18

exceptionally intelligent and skilful. In
deed, the Western Union Telegraph h the
most distinctively American institution in
tho United States. But within q year after
the Government should get hold Of II, 1t
would be impossible to recognize II, so
wholly would 1t have lost every characters
tic excellence. For Government ~tslegraphy
will DO q nat failure. 1t will be failure.
first, for want Of the stimulus OF private
ownership spurred by competition; Sec
ondly, because the most skilful, bright
est, and manifest Of the operators will
not accspt public service. there being nj
future In 1t, and a Government clerkship be-
ing to them adescent In life; thirdly, because
these skilled specialists would scorn to be
differed by politicians who have no knowl-
edge Of the business OF which they are Justly
proud; fourthly, principally for the reason
that the skilled men who, as superintend-
ents Of divisions, now manage the business
and plants OF the great telegraph lines, could
not be drawn into the public service.
Federal o~flceholding IL the business OF
second-fAte and third-rate men; OF men
who drop their muskets in the battle Of life
and straggle to the rear; Of men willing to
exchange largo possibilities for small GER
families. The corporate telegraph managers.
on tho other hand, are flrst-rate men and high
priced. When they leave the wires, % they
are constantly tempted to do In every direo-
ton, they go upward In responsibility, rank.
and pay, and never 60 downward. Mr..
HUaHITT, the President OF the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad Company, confessed
ly the best railroad man In America, started
on his upward career as a telegraph operator
under the great Tom ScoTT, with but q COM
NOR school education. His schooling on the
wires, in and out Of q railroad station and
on it's platform, was worth q dozen uni
versity educations. Fifty thousand dol
lars o year would not draw this great
administrator into the management Of q
Government telegraph eitheras Postmaster
General or superintendent. Among the great
steel rail makers and ironmasters Of the
world are the brothers CARNEGIE OF Pitts
burgh. Each In unaided youth was q tele-
graph operator on the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. Each left the wires for higher service
and larger pay In railroad management.
Both went as part purchasers and managers
into q Bessemer steel mill ON the line Of the
road. Sheer volume and quality of brain,
inspired by q genius for organization and
command, and directed by courage and
morality, carried them to the sum-
nit of Industrial success. A column Of
this paper would not suffice for the mention
Of the promoted operators. officers Of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, Of kin
in quality to the CARNEa1Es and HuaH1TT.
who have been captured from the wires by
great railroads, banking institutions, and
manufacturing corporations, and carried of
to SUPPLEMENTARY on high pay. 1t is off,
GERS like these who have given success to
American telegraphy. Politics attracts not
these men. To them public employment is a
tomb for the young n an asylum for the
aged. In the case Of the chief of them, to
whom the Government would naturally turn
for management Of a telegraphic plant to in
clude over 5000 Post Offices, we do not be-
lieve that the Presidential salary would tempt
Gen. EoKRRT to think OF undertaking 1t.
Bad enough will be the case Of the Gov
quate general and division officers to man.
ago II, capable and ambitious men, trained In
every department Of their business. It has
been truthfully said that, excepting q
woman's spring bonnet, nothing quicker
gets out Of usefulness than a telegraph line
not constantly looked after.
In corporate telegraph service the opera
tors live and work under discipline. The con-
ditions Of employment are fidelity, industry,
and obedience to rules. For want Of these
virtues operators lose their places. Trans
mute these men by act Of Congress into
Federal oficeholders. straightway they pass
out from the discipline of a well-managed
corporation, and take life easy in the short
hour. go-as-you-please ways Of a Govern
ment department.
We warn the people Of the United States
that If they permit the system Of telegraphy
they now enjoy to be carried off into the
Post Office Department., Government teleg-
raphy will as surely be a failure in America
as 1t has been In Europe.